Home Nations United States East Florida Polity Style: 1764-1822

East Florida: Polity Style: 1764-1822

10 Mar 1763 the possessions of the Spanish monarchy in North America, including the Floridas, are ceded by the King of Spain to the King of Great Britain in accordance with a treaty signed by plenipotentiaries of the kings of Great Britain, France and Spain on 10 Feb 1763 in Paris, effective on the exchange of ratifications on 10 Mar 1763 (Martens R2, 1:104-131; Chalmers, 1:467-494; Paris Treaty 1763 (Spanish official publication), pp. 139-314; France Diplomatie, Traités et accords de la France, TRA17630001)
7 Oct 1763 the territories in North America, ceded to Great Britain, constitute the Provinces of East Florida and West Florida in accordance with a proclamation issued by command of the King of Great Britain on 7 Oct 1763 (Canada Constitutional Documents 1759-1791, 1:163-168) [1]
31 Oct 1764 the Province of East Florida is placed under the administration of a Governor-in-Chief and Council in accordance with a commission issued by command of the King of Great Britain on 21 Nov 1763 which was read and published at St. Agustine on 31 Oct 1764 (East Florida, Minutes of the Governor in Council, 1764, f. 1-2)
31 Oct 1764 - 12 Jul 1784 Province of East Florida
19 Sep 1783 East Florida and West Florida are ceded by the King of Great Britain to the King of Spain in accordance with a treaty signed by plenipotentiaries of the kings of Great Britain and Spain on 3 Sep 1783 at Versailles, effective on the exchange of ratifications on 19 Sep 1783 (Chalmers, 2:229-248; Versailles Treaty 1783 (Spanish official publication), pp. 29-94)
12 Jul 1784 the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the city of St. Augustine and Province of East Florida assumes the government of East Florida in the name of the King of Spain at a public ceremony held at St. Augustine on 12 Jul 1784 (South Carolina Gazette and General Advertiser, No. 186, 5‒7 Aug 1784, p. 4)
12 Jul 1784 - 10 Jul 1821 Provincia de Florida Oriental
22 Feb 1821 the territories, formerly possessed by the Spanish monarchy and known by the names of East Florida and West Florida, are ceded to the United States in accordance with a treaty signed by plenipotentiaries of the United States and of the King of Spain on 22 Feb 1819 in Washington, D.C, effective upon the exchange of the ratifications on 22 Feb 1821 (United States Treaties, 3:3-20, 49-53)
10 Jul 1821 East Florida is transferred to the United States in accordance with an instrument of transfer signed by commissioner on the part of the United States and the commissioner on the part of the King of Spain in at St. Augustine on 10 Jul 1821 (American State Papers, Public Lands, 5:287-288)
10 Jul 1821 - 20 Jun 1822 Province of East Florida
30 Mar 1822 East Florida and West Florida constitute a territory of the United States under the name of the Territory of Florida in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (Senate on 8 Mar 1822; House of Representatives on 27 Mar 1822, with amendments; Senate concurs in the amendments on 27 Mar 1822), signed into law on 30 Mar 1822 (Statutes at Large, 3:654-659) [2]
20 Jun 1822 the territorial government of Florida is effectively established upon the arrival of the Governor to the seat of government, Pensacola, on 20 Jun 1822 (The Floridian, No. 43, 22 Jun 1822, p. 3; Territorial Papers, 22:475)
  1. The proclamation of 7 Oct 1763 referred to the territories as placed under the "distinct and separate Governments, styled and called by the names of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida and Grenada." The commissions to the Governors-in-Chief of East Florida and West Florida issued on 21 Nov 1763 defined the boundaries and referred to the territories as the Province of East Florida and the Province of West Florida.
  2. Full title: An Act for the establishment of a territorial government in Florida.